Paris 'Act IV' Multi-Front Mobilization: Metro Stations Closed as Childcare and TotalEnergies Strike

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On October 8, French high-school and university students staged 'Act IV' of a movement that began September 21 in the Créteil academy. The Education Ministry said 375 schools were partially or fully closed Thursday morning. In Paris, student groups rallied at 3pm at Place de la Bastille, while another march left Place de la République at 2pm for Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad.

Other fronts moved the same day: childcare workers struck for better staffing ratios and conditions; the CGT launched a 24-hour strike at TotalEnergies refineries and service stations over pay. At the Paris police prefecture's request, RATP closed several metro stations: Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (RER A and lines 1, 2, 6) and Argentine from the start of service until further notice; La Chapelle (line 2), Barbès–Rochechouart (lines 2, 4) and Jacques Bonsergent (line 5) from noon; Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8) from 1pm.

The government responded the same day: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said police had 'no instructions to confront high-schoolers'; Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced about 3,000 substitute teachers for hundreds of schools starting October 9. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 6,629 people have been arrested since the movement began, with 761 police and gendarmes and 215 students injured. Next dates: mobilization on Oct 13, a national day of protest on Oct 17 (Paris and about 20 cities), and a joint national cross-sector strike on Nov 5 called by the CFDT, CGT, FO, UNSA and FSU.